Laboratory Scientist 2 - Virology (PN20013913)

State-of-Ohio; Reynoldsburg (OH); On-site; USD 40,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Coverage

Dental and Vision Insurance

Paid time off

11 paid holidays per year

Education and development funds

Public Retirement Systems

Job summary

Ohio Department of Health is seeking a Laboratory Scientist 2 to join a dedicated public health laboratory team in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. You will perform high-complexity testing, employ a wide range of methods, and ensure quality and accuracy in results reported to clinicians and health departments.

The role involves data entry, collaboration across multiple agencies, and adherence to safety practices in a regulated laboratory environment.

Qualifications

• 42 months of pertinent laboratory experience or equivalent education as outlined by the position description.
• Experience with high complexity testing and regulatory quality control.
• Ability to communicate test results to physicians and public health partners.

Responsibilities

• Perform high complexity testing on clinical and environmental samples.
• Conduct a variety of testing methods including culture, molecular, and analytical techniques.
• Perform quality control testing on media, reagents, and test kits.
• Communicate explanations of test results to physicians, LHDs and other agencies.
• Monitor supplies and maintain documentation in the Laboratory Information Management System.

Skills

Laboratory

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in a biological, chemical, or medical technology field

Laboratory Science coursework or certification requirements as listed

Job description

Organization: Health

Work Location:

8995 East Main Street

Reynoldsburg, Ohio, 43068

United States

Compensation:

$28.76/hour

Schedule:

Permanent - Full Time

Work Hours:

M-F; 8:00am - 5:00pm

Classified Indicator:

Classified

Union:

OCSEA

Primary Job Skill:

Laboratory

Who We Are

Our mission at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is advancing the health and well-being of all Ohioans. Our agency is committed to building a modern, vibrant public health system that creates the conditions where all Ohioans flourish.

The ODH Public Health Laboratory assists the agency, local health departments, and clinicians across Ohio in disease outbreak investigations, public health emergencies, and identification of disease causes to aid in treatment and prevention. Our services include screening for diseases of public health interest, reference support for confirmation of low incidence infectious agents, laboratory investigation to determine epidemiological patterns, and oversight of the state’s alcohol breath testing program.

What You'll Do

As a Laboratory Scientist 2, you'll join a dedicated team of public health scientists producing the timely, accurate, high-quality data that reveals critical early warning signals, supports effective outbreak and emergency response, and - by helping public health's \"disease detectives\" identify sources of illness - drives improvements to prevention and treatment.

• Perform high complexity testing requiring specialized knowledge, training, and judgment on various clinical and environmental samples.
• Various testing methods to include: inoculating specimens and samples on appropriate microbiological culture media, recording observations including colony morphology, Gram stain, set-up of biochemical tests and other methods for microbial identification (e.g., MALDI-TOF, Culture Independent Diagnostic Testing (CIDT), BACTEC MGIT, Panther Fusion), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) andNext Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies, complex sample preparations using multiple chemical separation techniques involving digestion, precipitation and column chromatography, radiochemistry analysis, radiological counting, data analysis and reporting, gross alpha/beta, gamma analysis including analysis of environmental samples, liquid scintillation, mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and isoelectric focusing.
• Perform quality control testing on media, reagents, and test kits and record observations.
• Provide customer service functions by communicating explanations of test results to physicians, local health departments (LHDs) and other government agencies.
• Monitor routine laboratory supplies needed to perform daily functions in collaboration with multi-disciplinary team (e.g., ODH Terrorism Response staff, State Highway Patrol, FBI, EMA, Public Safety, LHD).
• Maintain work related documentation and use Laboratory Information Management System to input and process data.

Unusual Working Conditions

Selected candidates must be vaccinated for Hepatitis-B and will be exposed to biofluids and tissue, sharps, caustic or toxic chemicals, and/or explosives; may work varying hours and must be able to provide own transportation.

VACCINATED:

Proof of Hepatitis-B vaccination due before first day of work (do NOT provide, until directed to do so)

NOT VACCINATED:

Qualified candidates NOT yet fully vaccinated for Hepatitis-B must be able and willing to receive the vaccination. We can provide it at no cost (post-hire) and temporarily limit your work duties to prevent exposure.

Additional Information

Unless required by legislation, the selected candidate will begin at Pay Grade 31, Step 1 of the union (OCSEA) Pay Range Schedule ($28.76 per hour), with an opportunity for pay increase after six months ($30.10 per hour) of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Background Check Information

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Educational Transcript Requirements

Official educational transcripts are required for all post-secondary education claimed on the application before a formal job offer can be made. Transcripts must be provided within five (5) working days of the request; failure to provide them will cause elimination from further consideration. Transcripts must be originals sent directly from the institution featuring an institutional watermark, ink stamp, or embossed stamp. Web printouts will not be accepted. ODH reserves the right to evaluate the credibility of any degree or educational institution.

Why Work for the State of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*.

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

42 mos. pertinent laboratory experience commensurate with job duties to be performed as outlined per approved position description on file.

OR Completion of undergraduate core coursework in a biological, chemical, natural or physical science AND 12 mos. pertinent laboratory experience commensurate with job duties to be performed as outlined per approved position description on file.

OR Completion of Master of Science core program in a biological, chemical, natural or physical science.

OR 12 mos. exp. as Laboratory Scientist 1, 83291.

OR Positions in Department of Health must meet 1 of 5 options:

• (1) Associate's degree in a medical technology from accredited college or university
• (2)Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification
• (3) Bachelor's degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science, or medical technology AND 12 mos. pertinent laboratory experience or training in the specialty or subspecialty in which the individual will be assigned.
• (4)Education &/or training equivalent to 60 semester hours, or equivalent, that included 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses AND 18 mos. pertinent laboratory experience commensurate with job duties to be performed as outlined per approved position description on file.
• (5) Education &/or training equivalent to 60 semester hours, or equivalent, that included 24 semester hours of science that included 6 semester hours of chemistry, AND 6 semester hours of biology, AND 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology, or medical laboratory technology in any combinationAND18 mos. documented laboratory exp. in each specialty in which the individual performs high complexity testing.

Applications of those who meet the minimum qualifications will be further evaluated against the following criteria:

• Undergraduate or advanced degree in a chemical, physical, biological, or clinical laboratory science, or in medical technology, or a Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certification
• Experience performing serological procedures (e.g. fluorescent antibody tests, immunoassays)
• Experience with application of serological assay workflow best practices
• Experience troubleshooting assay and instrument problems
• Experience with quality assurance programs and documenting quality control
• Experience in inventory control of reagents and supplies
• Experience training others in microbiological &/or molecular techniques
• Experience maintaining equipment, inventory, and records
• Experience writing technical laboratory procedures
• Experience performing molecular procedures (e.g., Conventional or Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR], Digital PCR, Next Generation Sequencing)
• Experience in identification and characterization of viruses
• Experience communicating with laboratory, technical, &/or public health professionals

All eligible applications shall be reviewed considering the following criteria: qualifications, experience, education, and active disciplinary record.

Job Skills: Laboratory

Technical Skills: Laboratory, Research

Professional Skills: Analyzation, Attention to Detail, Interpreting Data

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.